MSNBC
- The foreperson in the special grand jury in Georgia investigating Trump has given a media tour.
- She confirmed that the panel recommended indictments.
- Republicans have since used her comments to discredit the investigation.
A media tour by the foreperson of a special grand jury investigating Donald Trump's efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results is causing a headache for prosecutors.
Emily Kohrs, the foreperson in the grand jury, has in recent days given candid interviews about the panel's work to outlets including CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times.
Kohrs was authorized to speak to the media but not to discuss details of the special grand jury's findings, which included charging recommendations. Prosecutors may now refer the report to an ordinary grand jury to bring criminal charges.
Without naming anyone, Kohrs said the special grand jury had recommended indictments for several of the people accused of helping Trump as he sought to reverse his defeat to Joe Biden in the state.
—Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) February 22, 2023
In one interview, she said: "You're not going to be shocked. It's not rocket science."
Although the special grand jury ultimately decided not to subpoena Trump, Kohrs said she thought it would have been "really cool" because she would have been the one swearing him in and would have liked to meet him.
Republican critics say the interviews show the investigation is riddled with anti-Trump bias.
CBS News reported that lawyers for witnesses in the investigation, which is being conducted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, would seek to overturn potential indictments on the basis of Kohrs' comments.
Legal experts told the Washington Post that Kohr's comments on evaluating witnesses, on jurors fraternizing with prosecutors, and her hopes the investigation would result in charges, all gave cause for concern.
However some legal experts said Kohrs did not break any laws in the interviews, so has not compromised the investigation.
—Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) February 22, 2023
"Emily Kohrs's pursuit of her fifteen minutes is not likely to preclude anyone indicted and convicted from serving their term of years," tweeted MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin.
Insider has contacted the Fulton County DA's office for comment.
Excerpts from the grand jury's report, released earlier in February, revealed few details but found that the 2020 election in Georgia had not been marred by widespread fraud, as Trump has repeatedly claimed.
Willis announced the investigation into Trump in February 2021. The probe is looking into whether Trump and his allies may have violated state laws in seeking to persuade officials to appoint an alternative set of electors to the Electoral College, ignoring Biden's victory.
Trump is alleged to have personally pressured state officials not to certify Biden's win as part of a campaign waged on several fronts to cling to power.
Correction: February 23, 2023 — An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the investigation was opened by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in 2020. She announced the investigation in February 2021.